Combination washing and drying machine



1933- 0 'c. E. REDDIG 1,925,038

COMBINATION WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l OOOOOOOOOOOOOO O OOO 000000000 ATTORN EY$ Aug. 29, 1933. c. E. REDDIG V 1,925,038

COMBINATION WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES COMBINATION 'wAsnING AND DRYING I MACHINE Y Charles E. Reddig, Kcw Gardens, N. Y., assignor to Graybar Electric Company, Inc., New York,

.N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 21, 1929 Serial N0. 408,802

10 Claims.

This invention relates to combination washing and drying machines and has particular reference to a machine having a tank or tub in which the washing operation occurs, and a sepa- 5 rate rotary perforated receptacle in the form of a centrifuge in which the washed clothes are placed and dried by extracting surplus water therefrom by centrifugal force.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a washing machine in which the washing and drying operations may be carried on concurrently or separately at will.

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine of the typedescribed in which the clothes washing tank contains a separately driven removable agitator for performing the washing operation in the bottom of the tank, and a separately driven removable centrifuge in the top of the tank above the water line, both the same time, or one may be used separately without interference by the other, and the centrifuge being mounted eccentrically in the wash tank whereby access may readily be had to the washing portion of the tank without interference by or removal of the centrifuge.

These and other objects are obtained in a pre ferred embodiment of the invention in which a cylindrical wash tank mounted upon legs in a special way has projecting through the bottom thereof a pair of vertical shafts, each of which is preferably driven continuously by suitable means such as a motor, but one of these shafts is oscillated while the other is rotated continuously. The oscillating shaft is located substantially in the center of the wash tank, while the continuously rotating shaft is spaced therefrom, i. e., is located eccentrically in the wash tank. A suitable agitator is adapted to be removably mounted 40 upon the oscillating shaft for washing clothes placed in the wash water in the bottom of the wash tank. Upon the continuously rotating shaft is adapted to be removably mounted a perforated cylinder or centrifuge basket, this basket 25 being located above the water level in the tank and because of the eccentric location of the shaft upon which it is mounted the basket is also eccentrically located in the top p p rtion of the wash tank, so that a crescent-shapedispace is left l0 between the basket and the wall of the wash tank.

Thus, the agitator and centrifuge basket can be operated simultaneously, and the operator may, reach into the wash tank through the crescentshaped space at one side of the centrifuge basket to remove washed clothes from the wash water agitator and the centrifuge being operable at the.

around the agitator and to place them in the centrifuge for drying after shutting down the machine for that. purpose; Where the washing and drying of clothes is carried on simultaneously, the laundering operation is completed in much 0' less time than heretofore. Because the agitator and the centrifuge basket are separate units, they may be used separately, so that the operator may carry on the washing or drying operations at. will. For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Figure 1 is a vertical section through the combined clothes washing and drying machine of this 70 invention, showing the agitator and centrifuge basket in position; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sections taken along the lines 22, 3-3, and 44 respectively of Fig. 1. v

In these drawings, numeral 10 designates the wash tank, which is preferably cylindrical in shape, porcelain-covered, and is supported upon the floor by legs 11 and closed by sheet metal cover 12. The channel-shaped legs are directly mounted upon the sides of the tank 10 over woodso en blocks 11' which are secured against the outside surface of the tank 10 by bolts 11-1, under whose heads water-tight gaskets 11" are inserted. This provides a strong and rigid arrangement which remains water-tight, inasmuch as the wood blockll' makes a good joint with the glossy surface of the tank 10, which cannot besecured with a metal member. Secured directly to the bottom of the wash tank 10 by water-tight bolts 13 is a'central casting 14 having a column 15 projecting upwardly through the bottom of the tank 10 and terminating above the normal level of the water therein, as is illustrated particularly in Fig. 1. The central casting 14 forms a sump 16 communicatingwith the wash tank 10, this sump normally discharging wash water from the tank through a nipple 1'7, upon which is fitted the flexi-- ble rubber hose 18, the nozzle 18' of which is adapted to be removably held by a clip 19 on the. side ofthe wash tank 10 above the normal water 109 level. therein. When it is desired to drain the tank 10, the nozzle 18 'of the hose 18 is removed from its clip 19, and lowered below the bottom of thetank 10, so that the water may flow therefrom by gravity. Inasmuch as the relatively thin N5 bottomof the tank 10 is somewhat flexible, the operating parts mounted upon casting 14 are flexibly supported and the vibration considerably reduced. 1 v

The upper end of column 15 is fitted with a pair 110 of bushings 20 and 21, and with a water tight gasket 22 which prevents splashing water from leaking through the bushings into the column 15 and the driving machinery below. The upper end of column 15 is also provided with an integral eccentric pilot collar 23, which is concentric with bushing 20, and whose purpose will be explained'later.

The lower end of the column 15.of the central casting 14 is equipped with a bushing member 24 and enclosed by a housing plate 25 which with casting 14 forms the gear box for the machine. J ournalled in the housing plate 25 and extending therethrough is a shaft 26, which is also journalled in bushing 24 at the lower end of column 15 and in bushing 21 in the top of column 15. This shaft projects above the upper end of column l5 and is provided with splines 27. A similar shaft is journalled in bushing 24 at the lower end of column 15 and in bushing 20 in the top of column 15, the projecting end of this shaft 28 also being splined at 29. Shaft 28' is located substantially in the center of the wash tank 10, while shaft 26 is spaced therefrom, and is thus located eccentrically in wash tank 10.

Pinned or otherwise secured to the lower projecting end of shaft 26 is a large pulley 30, driven by a belt 31 from the small pulley 32 of electric motor 33, mounted in a bracket 34, secured to one of the legs 11 which support the machine. Part- 1y enclosing the casting 14, gear box 14-25, pulleys 30 and 32, and belt 31 is a sheet metal splash guard 35 which is preferably secured to the legs 11 of the machine as is shown in Fig. 1.

Keyed upon the lower end of shaft 26 within the gear box 1425, is a spur pinion 36 which meshes with a large spur gear 37 journalled upon a vertical stub shaft 38, mounted in housing plate 25. The upper side of spur gear 37 is provided with an integraleccentric 39, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, upon which is mounted a slider 40, which is slidably mounted in the cross head 41 pivoted upon pin 42 mounted on housing plate 25. The opposite side of cross head 41 is formed into a sector whose center is pivot pin 42, this sector being provided withspur gear teeth 41' which mesh with a spur pinion 43 keyed to the lower end of central shaft 28. The lower end of central shaft nected together by a narrow stiffening flange 47 at the bottom end of cylinder. 45, but otherwise project radially without any other connecting web which would tend to form a bottom for'the agitator, as is the usual practice. The upper end of central agitator cylinder 45 is equipped with a head 48 having an interior axial stem 49 having a socket adapted to fit over the splined end of central shaft 28, so that the agitator rotates therewith. The aforementioned pilot collar 23 on column 15 fits fairly closely within cylinder 45, and thus prevents the mounting of the agitator upon eccentric shaft 26 by guiding the agitator when it is 'being emplaced so that it will only be mounted upon central shaft 28.

The head 48 of the agitator is provided with an arcuate slot 50, the length of which isdbl fib mined by the maximum angle of oscillation o the agitator, which is, say 160 degrees. This arcuate slot 50 is normally closed by a mast 51 in the form of a circular disc freely rotatable about stem 49 as a center and under the head 48 of the agitator, it being held in this position by an interior bead 52 or the like so as to be free for rotation. This rotatable mask 51 is provided off center with a circular hole, which registers with arcuate slot 50 in the head 48 of the agitator, and with the eccentric shaft 26, which is visible through circular hole 53 when it lies in registry with this shaft, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The mask 51 is adapted to close the arcuate slot 50 against injury to the users fingers and to clothes which may be inadvertently inserted therethrough when the centrifuge basket to be described is not in place. The splined end 29 of agitator shaft 28 and the corresponding socket in agitator stem 49 are so shaped that the agitator can only be placed on its drive shaft 28 in such a way that the arcuate slot 50 in the head 48 registers with the splined end 27 of centrifuge shaft 26, i. e., the latter cannot be covered by the unperforated portion of head 48.

It is to be noted that the agitator is supported only at one point, i-. e., at the top or head thereof, whereby the usual bottom bearing or guide for the lower portion of the agitator is eliminated. This arrangement provides great rigidity, pro- 1 vides no place wherein the clothes can be caught and torn, and facilitates removal of the agitator and cleaning of the tank 10.

Adapted to be inserted through slot 50 in the head 48 of the agitator, and through hole 53 and 1 the mask 51, is stem 54 of the centrifuge basket 55. The stem 54 is splined to fit the splined end 2'7 of eccentric shaft 26, and is preferably provided with an integral head 56, upon which is riveted the raised central portion 57 of the bottom of basket 55 is fitted with an inwardly directed rim 58, which prevents clothing placed in the centrifuge basket from flying out because of centrifugal force.

In operation, let it be assumed that the operator desires. to perform the clothes washingand drying operations simultaneously and that the agitator and centrifuge basket are not in place upon their respective shafts 28 and 26.

The operator then places the agitator over the column 15, and because of the pilot ring 23 the splined stem 49 of the agitator head 48 will be guided to slip over the splined end 29 of central shaft 28, and there is no danger of the agitator being inadvertently placed upon eccentric shaft 26, which rotates continuously at relatively high speed and thus might cause the agitator to injure clothing placed in the tank 10. Having emplaced the agitator in the manner de-' scribed, the operator sticks her finger into hole 53 of mask 51 through arcuate slot 50 and rotates the mask until hole 53 thereof lies in registry with splined end 27 of eccentric shaft 26. The stem 54 of the centrifuge basket 55 can then be slipped over the splined end 27 of eccentric shaft 26. Then the machine is started by operating an electric switch, not shown, which energizes the driving motor 33. The motor 33, through pulley 32, belt 31, and machine pulley 30, drives eccentric shaft 26, continuously in the same direction at relatively high speed, which also rotates the connected centrifuge basket at relatively high speed. The spur pinion 36 keyed to eccentric shaft 26 rotates the spur gear 37 so that the eccentric 39 thereof, by moving slider 40 laterally in to be oscillated in an are about its pivot pin 42 as will be understood upon examining Fig.4. Because toothed sector 41' of cross head 41 meshes with pinion43 keyed to central shaft 28, this shaft is oscillated throughthe assumed aforesaid angle of 160 degrees. Thus it will be seen that while the agitator oscillates, the centrifuge basket 55 rotates continuously, even though the latter is driven through the head 48 of the agitator. This is so because the mask 51 remains stationary as the agitator moves around it, the stem 54 projecting through the arcuate slot in the head 48 of the agitator.

In use, the operator inserts the clothes to be washed through'the crescent-shaped space left between the eccentrically located centrifuge basket 55 and the wall of the wash tank 10, and operates the switch to set the motor 33 into operation. After the clothes have been washed in the wash water by the oscillating agitator, and the motor is stopped, the operator may reach through the crescent-shaped space between the centrifuge basket 55 and the wall of .the tank 10 to remove the washed clothes and place them in the centrifuge basket 55,-which, by its rapid rotation, expels surplus water therefrom by centrifugal force. i.

Should the operator wish to carry on the wash-, ing and drying operations separately instead of simultaneously as described above, she may remove the centrifuge basket 55 and wash the several batches of clothes successively. Then rshe may either leave the agitator in place and emplace the centrifuge basket 55 in the manner described, or she may remove the agitator and emplace the centrifuge basket 55, the spline 29 on central shaft 28 being made different than the spline 27 on eccentric shaft 26, so that she can only place the centrifuge upon the proper shaft 26. However, even though the splines 27 and 29 of both shafts are made the same, no damage will be done if the centrifuge is inadivertently placed .upon the oscillating'shaft 28. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention-is not limited thereby, but is susceptible of many va- -jriations in form and detail within its scope.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, means for washing clothes, a centrifuge mounted directly above said washing means, a common wash water tank for said washing means and said centrifuge, both the washing means and the centrifuge being within the confines of said tank, and a common driving means for said washing means and said centrifuge, said centrifuge being mounted eccentrically in said tank whereby a space is left between the centrifuge and one side of the tank for access to the wash water.

2. In a washing machine, means for washing clothes comprising an agitator, a centrifuge, a common wash water tank for said agitator and said centrifuge, both the agitator and the centrifuge being within the confines of said tank, and a common driving means for said washing means and said centrifuge, said centrifuge ber in: mounted eccentrically in said tank directly cross head 41, causes the same said agitator.

above said agitator and above the normal level of the wash water therein, whereby space is left between the centrifuge and one side of said tank for access to the wash water without disturbing said centrifuge.

3. In a washing machine, means for washing clothes comprising an agitator, a centrifuge, a common wash water tank for said agitator and said centrifuge, both the agitator and the cen-r trifuge being within the confines of said tank,

said centrifuge being mounted eccentrically in said tank directly above said agitator and above the normal level of the wash water therein, said agitator being mounted below said centrifuge and substantially centrally of said tank, and a common driving means for said centrifuge and 4. In a washing machine, means for washing clothes comprisingan agitator, a centrifuge, a common wash water tank for said agitator and centrifuge, both the agitator and the centrifuge being within the confines of said tank, the agitator being tank and the centrifuge in the top portion thereof, a shaft projecting substantially into the center of said tank for driving said agitator, and a second independent shaft projecting eccentrically into said tank for driving said centrifuge located in the lower portion of said and spacing the same from one side of said tank, and a common source of power for driving said shafts.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a wash tank having -a glazed surface, legs for supporting said tank, solid members softer than the glazed surface of the tank interposed between said legs and said tank, said members preventing fracture of the glazed surface of the tank when the legs are clamped thereto, and means for clamping the legs, solid members and tank to-- gether with the surface of the tank being in direct contact with the solid members.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of a washing tank having a glazed surface, channelshaped legs for supporting said tank, solid mem bers softer than the glazed surface of the tank lying in the channels of said legs and projecting slightly beyond the edges of the sides defining the channel, said members preventing fracture of the glazed surface of the tank when the legs are clamped thereto, and means for clamping the legs, solid members and tank together with the surface of the tank being in direct contact with the solid members.

7. In awashing machine, the combination of a wash tank having a glazed surface, legs for supporting said tank, blocks of rigid non-metallic material softer than the glazed surface of the tank interposed between said legs and said tank,

said members preventing fracture of the glazed surface of the tank when the legs are clamped thereto and fastening means extending through the wall of said tank, said blocks and said legs for securing the legs to the tank-with at least the surface of the tank being in direct contact with the non-metallic blocks.

8. In a laundering machine, a vertically-extending cylindrical tank, means .for washing clothes located in the bottom of said tank, a centrifuge mounted within the confines of said tank and directly above said washing means, a common driving means for said washing means and said centrifuge, and means extending through the bottom of said tank for transmitting power from said driving means to said washing means and llld centrifuge, said'oentrifuge being eccentrically mounted in said tank whereby a space is left between the centrifuge and one side of the tank for access to the washing water.

9. In a laundering machine, a vertically-extending cylindrical tank, means for washing clothes located in the bottom of said tank and adapted to rotate-about an axis extending substantially through the center of said tank, a centrifuge mounted within the confines of said tank, and directly above said washing means, a common driving means for said washing means and said centrifuge, and means extending through the bottom of said tank for transmitting power from said driving means to said washing means and said centrifuge, said centrifuge being eccentrically mounted in said tank whereby a space is left between the centrifuge and one side of the v tank for access to the wash water.

10. In a laundering machine, 'a vertically-extending cylindrical tank, means for washing clothes located in the bottom of said tank, a centrifuge mounted within the confines of said tank and directly above said washing means, a common driving means for said washing means and said centrifuge, laterally spaced shafts extending through the bottom of said tank and connected to said washing means and centrifuge for transmitting power to the same from said common driving means, said centrifuge being eccentrically mounted in said tank whereby a space is left between the centrifuge and one side of the tank for access to the wash water.

CHARLES E. REDDIG. 

